NATIONAL LEAGUE Thome is Phillies' leader

The former Indians' slugger is now the Phillies' home-run hitter.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Jim Thome dug his spikes for yet another chance to be the hero. The count was full, the ballpark nearly empty, but the buzz surrounding this at-bat was enough to make it seem like a playoff game.
Florida's Chad Fox could have pitched around Thome leading off the eighth inning of the recent game. Instead, he threw a slider that Thome whacked over the right-field wall, snapping a tie game in a 5-4 Philadelphia win.
What was left of a rain-soaked crowd of nearly 21,000 fans cheered so loud that it sounded like no one left. Thome raised his right arm above his head and pumped his fist. Then, it was another curtain-call after he again brought down the house.
It was a typical Thome moment in a season full of big hits in big games.
"We got him as our go-to guy and that's exactly what he's doing," manager Larry Bowa said. "He's been huge."
Power-hitting threat
Thome has become the power-hitting threat in the middle of the lineup the Phillies expected when they signed him during the winter. He has delivered the numbers; now he wants to deliver Philadelphia to the postseason.
"When we need a win, we do it and that's a big thing," Thome said.
Thome tied the team record for homers by a lefty, set by Chuck Klein in 1929. The 43 homers are the most by a Philadelphia hitter since Mike Schmidt's 48 in 1980.
More importantly, the left-handed slugger has revitalized a franchise and a city starved for a winner. He's turned his 35-inch, 32-ounce Louisville Slugger into the Philadelphia's latest historic symbol.
Most important acquisition
Bowa, who played for Philadelphia from 1970-1981, said signing Thome was the team's most important free-agent acquisition ever, topping even the 1979 signing of Pete Rose. Thome agreed to an $85 million, six-year contract in December, making him the highest-paid player in Phillies history.
"We had won [division titles] before without Pete," said Bowa, who was on the 1980 World Series-winning team with Rose.
Thome's hoping to lead the Phillies to their first postseason appearance since 1993. Thome hit a homer in three straight games against Florida, as the Phillies won twice and pulled within a half-game of the Marlins for the NL wild-card lead.
Philadelphia opened a three-game series with Cincinnati on Friday while Florida played at Atlanta.
Was popular with Tribe
Thome, Cleveland's 13th-round pick in the 1989 amateur draft, played his entire career with the Indians before leaving as a free agent. The Indians won six division titles and went to the World Series twice during Thome's tenure, as he became one of the most popular players in team history.
"Those times were big, but those times are gone," he said.
The Phillies, meanwhile, were coming off their 14th losing season in 16 years. Kevin Millwood and David Bell also were acquired as the Phillies quickly tried to become contenders as they prepare to move into their new ballpark in 2004.
Thome, though, has been quick to deflect praise toward his teammates, and constantly reminds everyone how quickly the game can change.
Thome's posting MVP-type numbers, though San Francisco's Barry Bonds, Atlanta's Garry Sheffield and St. Louis' Albert Pujols will likely receive stronger consideration.
Centerpieces
But those three are centerpieces of loaded lineups. Thome has carried the brunt of a Philadelphia offense that has failed to meet expectations.
"If we would have had the lineup hit the way we anticipated, his numbers would be eye-popping," Bowa said. "They're eye-popping now, but I mean really eye-popping."
Thome entered this season with a .287 career batting average and hit over .300 three times. He's only hitting .269 this season, though Bowa blamed an infield shift, adjusting to a new league and the weakened lineup for his lower average.
"He's done this basically on his own this year," Bowa said.
Bowa acknowledged it's gotten to the point -- unfair as it is -- where he expects Thome to hit a homer every time the Phillies need a clutch hit. His teammates also have become spoiled.
"We definitely look to him when we're down more than one run," said catcher Mike Lieberthal. "Usually his hits are homers. He doesn't really get a lot of seeing-eye singles."
Thome would like to see those hits carry over into October and add to his total of 17 career postseason homers.
"When you get to this time of the year everything is magnified, but it's fun. It should be fun," he said. "I think this is why we all play."